Fastener for shoe bags



Feb. 14, 1933. -r 1,897,306

FASTENER FOR SHOE BAGS Filed Feb. 24, 1932 IN V EN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 14, 1933 PATENT OFFICE FRANK C. FLINT, OF CHICOPEE FALLS, MASSACHUSETTS rnsrnnnza ron snon BAGS Application filed February 24, 1932. Serial No. 594,901.

This invention relates to devices particularly intended for use upon shoe bags, for the purpose of holding the bag in closed position and also for indicating the contents of the bag. It is of particular utility in connection with a shoe bag of elastic material such as knitted fabric, made smaller than the shoe to which it is applied so that the fabric will be stretched when the shoe is inserted and, therefore, caused to conform closely to the shape of the shoe. In a bag of this character there is a constant strain on the fabric which tends to open up the mouth of the bag, spoiling the neat appearance of the package and also preventing the bag from performing its intended purpose in keeping the shoe from contacting with other articles in the trunk or suitcase in which it is packed.

It has been the commercial practice in manufacturing shoe bags of this general type to make the bags in several colors, so that the user may purchase one color for each kind of shoe to be packaged. When a user has a large number of shoes, however, this plan is no longer practical on account of its complexity and the difficulty of associating a large number of colors with particular pairs of shoes. It is accordingly desirable to provide some form of attachment to the bag so that it may be marked as desired by the user. By the present invention both features of retaining the bag closed and providing a marking space are combined in a single simple device.

The invention in its preferred form will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a shoe bag with the device of my invention attached;

Fig. 2 is a. plan view of the device with one element removed;

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the removed element;

Fig. 4 is a central section on an enlarged scale of the device shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the way in which the device is used.

The shoe bag 10 is formed of an elastic material, preferably knitted fabric, with its edge adjacent the bag opening turned. back to form a casing 11 through which a draw string or tape 12 passes. The ends of the draw string are preferably knotted together so that it forms in effect a closed loop. The retaining device comprises a plate-like slide 13 having near each enda hole 14 preferably having a struck-up ear 15 near its outer edge. The tape 12 passes through the holes 14 underneath the ears 15 and across the top of the slide 13 as best shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The slide 13 may be made of celluloid, preferably colored to match the material of the A friction piece 17 has a tongue 18 formed at each end adapted to extend into the holes 1 1- under the upstanding ears 15. The distance between the ears is less than the length of the piece 17 between the shoulders 19 so that the piece 17, being made of some resilient material such as celluloid, will be bowed upwardly as in Fig. 4. By this bowing of the piece 17 it is caused to bear against the tape 12, pressing it against the sides of the holes 1 1 and exerting a friction upon it sufficient to prevent the fastener from slipping along the tape under the strain exerted by the tendency of the bag to open. This friction is, however, not sufiicient to prevent the fastener being shifted on the tape manually whenever desired.

A further advantage will result if the outer surface of the piece 17 is roughened so that it can be marked on by a penciL- With this construction the user may write upon the fastener the type of shoes contained within the bag, so that the bags need not be opened in order to determine what they contain.

I claim:

1. A fastener for the draw strings of elastic shoe bags and the like which comprises a body portion having spaced holes through which the draw strings may pass and upstanding ears at the outer edges of the holes, a resilient friction piece longer than the distance between the ears and having tongues extending through the holes to preserve the friction piece against sideways displacement, said frictional piece being in frictional contact with the draw strings, and means to hold the friction piece in bowed condition between the ears.

2. A fastener for the draw strings of elastic shoe bags and the like which comprises a body 5 portion having spaced holes through which the draw strings may pass and upstanding ears at, the outer edges of: the holes and a resilient friction piece longer" than; the: distance between the ears and wider than the 10 holes and having tongues extending through" 4 the holes to preservethe frictionpieee against s sideways displacement, said friction piece being in frictional contact with the drawstrings and bowed between. the ears. 15 3. A fastener for the draw strings of elastic shoe bagsand-therlike which comprises abody pontion havingyspaced' holes through: which the draw strings may pass andupstanding ears at the outer edges of} the hol'es and a 20 resilientcelluloid friction piecelonger than I the distance bwetween; theears and wider than the holes and haying; tongues extending through thezholes to preserve the friction pieceagainst:sidewaysdisplacement,the tric- 26 tion piece'being in; frictional contact, with. the I draw, strings, bowedi between theears, and roughened on its external surface to; permit markingtheneonwitharpencill A V In testimony whereof I have aflixed, my

8.0 signature; s V

FRANK o. FLINT. 

